The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - My new miner's headlamp

FirstFreedom · December 3, 2007, 10:33 PM

I had two other headlamps, a Streamlight and a Browning brand, but was disappointed in the output of these, so I went searching recently for a better one. Luckily, Sportsman's Warehouse had about a million and a half items to select from in this category. I wanted more output than what LED can provide. After looking at some Petzls, I ended up switching brands and snagging the Black Diamond "Helion", which has the battery pack in the rear of the head and the lamp in the front, which allows it to hold three AA batts - which is great because I try to standardize on AA for my flashlights.

http://www.karstsports.com/libldi.html

http://www.karstsports.com/bldihe1.html

These lights are designed for rock/mountain climbers and/or "cavers", but I was very pleased with it while hunting on Sat. I used the lower LED output for normal navigating, and switched to the Xenon bulb for when I felt a little lost and wanted to look further through the woods. It doesn't say the Lumen output, but I gathered that it was the brightest or one of the brightest for sale. It is well made, also, it seems. Comfortable, too.

I'm looking now at the much more expensive Vectra IQ, and I don't see how it can be brighter than the Helion as claimed, with the same bulb. Black Bear, can you tell me?

http://www.karstsports.com/bldiveiq.html

What's the best and brightest out there in the miner's light category - anyone know?

Here, this $80 Princeton Tec brand model says up to 60 lumens of output:

http://www.karstsports.com/prtecap3wale.html

December 3, 2007, 10:33 PM	#1
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	My new miner's headlamp - Black Diamond "Helion" I had two other headlamps, a Streamlight and a Browning brand, but was disappointed in the output of these, so I went searching recently for a better one. Luckily, Sportsman's Warehouse had about a million and a half items to select from in this category. I wanted more output than what LED can provide. After looking at some Petzls, I ended up switching brands and snagging the Black Diamond "Helion", which has the battery pack in the rear of the head and the lamp in the front, which allows it to hold three AA batts - which is great because I try to standardize on AA for my flashlights. http://www.karstsports.com/libldi.html http://www.karstsports.com/bldihe1.html These lights are designed for rock/mountain climbers and/or "cavers", but I was very pleased with it while hunting on Sat. I used the lower LED output for normal navigating, and switched to the Xenon bulb for when I felt a little lost and wanted to look further through the woods. It doesn't say the Lumen output, but I gathered that it was the brightest or one of the brightest for sale. It is well made, also, it seems. Comfortable, too. I'm looking now at the much more expensive Vectra IQ, and I don't see how it can be brighter than the Helion as claimed, with the same bulb. Black Bear, can you tell me? http://www.karstsports.com/bldiveiq.html What's the best and brightest out there in the miner's light category - anyone know? Here, this $80 Princeton Tec brand model says up to 60 lumens of output: http://www.karstsports.com/prtecap3wale.html Last edited by FirstFreedom; December 4, 2007 at 12:04 AM.